T.O. Smith believes in one thing - a happily ever after.
Her books are fast-paced and dive straight into the romance and the action. She doesn't do extensively drawn out plots. Normally, within the first chapter, she's got you - hook, line, and sinker.
As a writer of various different genres of romance, a reader is almost guaranteed to find some kind of romance novel they'll enjoy on her page.
T.O. Smith can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and now even TikTok! She loves interacting with all of her readers, so follow her!
⭐ 5/5 – Spicy, Fast-Paced, and Deliciously Dark Kneel for Me is book 4 in the Jackson Family series and delivers everything you want in a spicy mafia MM romance. The story centers on Ivan Volkov, a Russian Pakhan allied with the Jacksons, and Adrian, consigliere to Don James Jackson. These two start off as enemies—Adrian absolutely hates Ivan—but are forced to work together in Russia to uncover a leak. What begins as tension explodes into chemistry... and then some.
The book wastes no time jumping into the action with a literal plane crash and quickly shifts gears into a red-hot enemies-to-lovers dynamic. Ivan doesn’t hold back—he wants Adrian and makes it very clear. The relationship escalates fast, with a good 75% of the book focused on steam, and 25% on the plot—and if you're here for the spice, it's chef’s kiss.
⚠️ Trigger Warnings:
Light BDSM
Blood play
Plane crash
Violent death
Mental health themes (psychopathy, sociopathy)
💭 Spoilers & Thoughts: This book is pure guilty pleasure. The enemies-to-lovers trope is intense and delicious. The rapid emotional shift after the crash might not be for everyone, but it worked for me—especially with Ivan being so possessive and driven. Adrian’s internal conflict paired with Ivan’s unrelenting dominance made for an addictively fast-paced read. Mental health is touched on but not in an overwhelming way—it’s more of a backdrop to Ivan’s character complexity.
The praise kink in this book is strong, and the use of “good boy” is frequent and very effective. If that’s your thing, prepare to melt.
🔥 Favorite Quotes:
"Just remember you asked for it, Kotik."
"Remember, if I was capable of loving anyone, I would love you, Kotik."
📌 From the Blurb:
“He’s been obsessing over him for years… and now, he’s finally getting a chance to claim him.”
“I’m terrified of losing myself... but then I’m given orders to spend the foreseeable future with him. Ivan Volkov. He’s the bane of my existence. He looks at me like he wants the monster inside me to come out and play.”
“Especially not when Ivan drops to his knees in front of me and tempts me with the sweetest deal I’ve ever been offered.”
📝 Final Notes: If you're into fast-burn, filthy mafia MM with dark psychological undertones, a domineering love interest, and the kind of spice that leaves you breathless, Kneel for Me absolutely delivers. This is not a slow-burn. This is “crash the plane, claim the man, call him good boy” energy. Just don’t skip those trigger warnings.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is my first book by this author but I am obsessed! I love MM and prefer it but I loved the way this author wrote Adrian and Ivan that I'm going back to read the beginning of this series even the MF books! So good! It had action, spice, mystery and the mafia and Bratva. What more could you want? Add in some beautifully unhinged obsession and domination and you have Kneel For Me. I loved how unhinged and feral these men were for each other. Adrian is one of the Don's right hand men who keeps his psychopathy under wraps and sticks to paperwork so he doesn't get out of control and can maintain his secret as to not hurt the family. Ivan is the Packhan in Russia. He's powerful and commanding and has honed his sociopathy to rule with an iron fist. Adrian hates him because Ivan can see through him. To the monster inside him that Ivan wants to draw out and play with his own. Ivan knew the first time he saw Adrian that he was his and he waited years to have the chance to make it so. And he's given the perfect opportunity when the Don partners Adrian with Ivan to work together to find the threat that's determined to take both families down. They go through a heck of a lot together and in that time Adrian starts to see that he didn't hate Ivan but hated that he wanted him and that he fought so hard. But when Ivan gets him on his knees and quiets his head for the first time he knows there's no going back. I couldn't put this book down and I'm so happy I found it! I'm excited to find out what's to come next. This time with Mark and Igor!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
'There was a way he looked at me that put me on edge. Like he could see right into my soul and to all the dark bits of me I hid from the world. The unhinged pieces. The parts of me that reveled in a kill. The monster that craved the blood of others on my skin. A monster, that if unleashed, would destroy everything.'
I loved this book. Great world building and wonderful characters. The story was interesting from the start as we learn the stakes are high. I loved both Adrian and Ivan. Adrian caught my attention at how he maintained control to keep his inner darkness at bay. But he absolutely HATED Ivan. Ivan was calm and collected while Adrian was snarling and barely restrained. While Ivan poked at Adrian's buttons, he recognized the darkness inside him that was so much like his own and it drew him in.
'That same darkness I had residing inside of me? I saw it in Adrian. And f-k if I didn’t want that part of him to come out and play with me just so I could bring him to his knees.'
The story was fast paced and exciting with danger and suspense. The chemistry between these two burned and I couldn't get enough of them. 5 stars.
I nearly didn't read this story due to the trigger warnings. When they mentioned blood play, that was my breaking point. However, I do love T.O. Smith's work, so I thought I'd give it a try and if nothing else I could stop if it became too much. Thankfully, I didn't have to stop - and I also didn't want the story to end. I loved watching Adrian and Ivan come together, and Ivan forcing Adrian to submit to him. It was brutal and honest and gory at times. But at the same time it was one of the most romantic stories of two people falling in love that I've read in a long while. While their story isn't traditional, and never will be, there is no shame in their kinks or how they decide to express their love and how to be vulnerable with one another. Proof that everyone, no matter who you are or what you may have wrong with you, is worthy of love and that your perfect match is out there somewhere. Who knows, maybe they are already stalking you and you aren't even aware yet.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Aiden is the best friend and consigliere to James Jackson (Stolen Beauty). He was labeled a sociopath and has kept himself in a small box surrounded by busy work until James comes and tells him he needs him to take a trip with Ivan Volkov to Russia. Ivan has always irritated him and he is not sure how he will make thru it.
Ivan has been obsessed with Aiden for years since he and James organization was bound him by marriage. Now that someone is coming for James's family this gives him he opportunity to make Aiden his, he is tried of waiting any longer.
This is not a sweet read, it is dark. It has several violent elements from torture, murder, near death and a plane crash. The interaction between both characters is intense in and out of the bedroom. It is a perfect addition to the Jackson Family series.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The book is dark and contains subjects that may be hard for some to read so I'd recommend to take seriously and read the forewarning T.O Smith gives. There might be triggers for some. Kneel for me is a story about Ivan and Adriant - complex men with more darkness in them than most people even in their world. It was refreshing to read about main characters that aren't in every romance book mc material because our mc's are sociopath and psychopath - these mental health disorders are the base of everything it this book. To me these men and their diagnosis were used beautifully and I truly liked their romance was truly build not despite their disorders but because of them. It was fast and good read - actually read it in one sitting. I have one grievance but because I du not want to give spoilers I'm just gonna put it like this; their wolrd is built for family, they live and die for them. Nothing is more important than that. So change should be hard.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This MM mafia romance starts off slow, but once it picks up speed, it really delivers. Dark, intense, and charged with tension, Kneel For Me explores obsession, control, and the pull between duty and desire.
The dynamic between the quiet, calculated Adrian and the chaotic temptation Ivan is addictive. There’s something magnetic about watching a controlled Adrian unravel—and Ivan knows exactly which buttons to push.
The mafia backdrop adds the right amount of danger, while the emotional undertones give the characters depth beyond the lust and power games. The pacing may feel a bit slow at the start, but it’s worth sticking with—once the chemistry ignites, it’s impossible to look away.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
T.O. Smith delivers a dark, fast-paced romance in Kneel for Me that leans heavily into power dynamics and taboo attraction. The story is unapologetically intense, with a hero who demands control and a heroine caught between fear and fascination. It’s not a soft romance—expect rough edges, morally gray characters, and a focus on submission/domination rather than tenderness. While the book’s brevity makes it a quick read, some readers may find the pacing rushed and the character development thin. If you enjoy raw, boundary-pushing dark romance with heavy dominance themes, this scratches the itch. If you’re looking for emotional depth or redemption arcs, it may not fully satisfy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The way that Ivan has always been waiting for his chance to claim Adrian as his will forever be etched into my brain. Adrian has been living with a sociopathic disorder for years and has always been skirting the line of losing control and has to keep himself in check. Enter Ivan, the (somewhat) bane of his existence whenever Adrian is around him.
When Ivan finally got Adrian to admit that he wanted to be claimed, all bets were off with the most amazing spicy times and the way that Ivan helps "free" Adrian's mind when overwhelmed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ivan Volkov, the ruthless Russian Pakhan, and Adrian, Don Jackson’s ice‑cold consigliere, are destined to despise each other—until they’re sent to Moscow to unmask a traitor in the ranks. Forced together in snow‑bound boardrooms and shadowy alleys, their razor‑sharp banter ignites into a feral chemistry that neither can deny. When Ivan finally has Adrian on his knees, the tables turn in the most deliciously dangerous way.
With every power play and whispered confession, this story proves that in the deadly dance of loyalty and love, sometimes the only way to win is to surrender completely.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
My first read in the series and I’m hooked. Book 4 of the Jackson Family series brings a MM MC romance with suspense, danger and an explosive chemistry that will not be denied. I loved how the characters relationship comes alive with so much steam that it burns the pages. The characters have a trait that I’m not familiar with and I love how the author brings that trait in a way that the readers can easily follow . This isn’t a sweet romance instead it’s dark, intense with several sensitive issues that is not for the faint of heart. I can’t wait to discover the other characters in this series!
This is book number 4 of the Jackson Family series and focuses on Ivan and Adrian. Ivan has wanted Adrian for years but had to sit back and wait until the perfect opportunity to finally make Adrian his. Adrian has been living a half life due to his diagnosis of being a sociopath. He is constantly on the boundary of having his other side take over. With Ivan, he found someone that not only accepts that side of him, but loves it and encourages that side to come out. The two of them were absolutely perfectly made for each other. This was a great read and a great addition to the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
10 out of 10! I would rate this book even higher if possible. After waiting several years for its release, it truly met my expectations. Watching Adrian and Ivan interact, especially how T.O. wove their diagnoses into the narrative, created a cohesive story. The emotional depth and vulnerability were evident. I observed substantial character growth for both Adrian and Ivan, It’s definitely one of the main things I absolutely loved in this book!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a great Mafia romance. Adrian is James' second and they have been lifelong friends. Ivan is the Bratva Pakhan who has lusted after Adrian for years. James has asked Ivan to help find the traitors to his family and Ivan is willing as long as Adrian helps him. On Ivan's private jet to Russia their plane crashes and this kicks off their HEA. This is one of the most entertaining Mafia books I have read in a long time regardless of the two lovers being male. This is a must-read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Adrian thinks that he needs to keep to himself to keep his demons at bay. He is fortunate, although he did not initially think so, that Ivan believes he is up to the task of not only partnering with Adrian to take care of MC business. He also feels that he is up to the task of being with Adrian and he is not afraid of the monster inside Adrian that he is trying to keep contained. These two really fit together. Although not long, this story was spicy and well done.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book is definitely a page turner! Adrian and Ivan’s relationship had me so drawn in and kept me wanting more through the whole book! There was a perfect amount of both storyline and spice to round out the book! I really enjoyed the age gap with the difference of the dom being the younger one and the sub being the older one!!
I cannot wait to read more from T.O Smith!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is book four of the Jackson Family Series Ivan is so very dominant in this read i love the control and connection he has over Adrian they have a spark but one tries the deny it while the other tries the hide it. But the family wants Adrian to go with Ivan to try and figure out who is trying to be a treat to the empire they have built but the twists and turns in this one will keep you turning the page.
This is a well-written, dark(ish) erotic story with a fair bit of drama and a whole lot of spice. If you haven't read the other books in the series, I think you'll still follow along with the story easily enough, but it is better overall if you've read the rest of them.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
THis is a dark and intense novella and is book 5 in the Jackson Family series by T.O. Smith. Ivan has been watching and waiting for Adrian for a long time and now is his chance to make him his. These 2 are extremely complex men with more darkness in them than most people. It was a good thing to read about main characters that aren't everyday romance book main characters.
What a fantastic addition to this brilliant series! More fast paced action and an intriguing storyline which kept me hooked until the end! Loved the characters both main and secondary whose helped make this an awesome read!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I luv'd everything about this book. The plot was intriguing and exciting. World building was superbly done. The characters were so well written. I want more :)
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a fast paced dual continental mafia book that will keep you on your toes! Two different families come together with a similar goal to find out who is targeting their families. And an a long awaited romance blooms.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
For Adrian and Ivan things are not straightforward, or are they? A dark mafia/bratva story with drama and violence, but also the newfound relationship and heat between these two men turned from enemies to lovers.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
James, asks his second Aidren to help Ivan in finding the traitors after his family, and Ivans wanted Adrian watched him and now the perfect chance comes to claim him well written steamy hot MM, mafia/bratva romance
This was such a good book. I love how Adrian acting with Ivan at first but then he completely changed around him and it was hot. I couldn't get enough of their relationship. They make such a good couple.
Wow! This book has everything. Action, adventure and sensuality. The writer did a great job blending all of it together, so it seemed organic and nature. I would definitely recommend you check this out!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kneel for Me is the fourth book in the Jackson Family series, each can be read as a standalone and this is the first in the series I have read. This is a dark, steamy, suspenseful read about Adrian and Ivan. I really enjoyed this story and loved all the wonderful characters.
Ivan has been obsessed with Adrian for years and now he's going to get his chance to have him. Adrian is afraid of Ivan because when Ivan looks at him, he really sees who Adrian is and and Adrian can't let that happen. I really enjoyed this book.